There's a tree in the hole and a hole in the ground.....
Written for the weekly prompt on Your Scribbles
More from J.R. (I adore her...and her snarky ways) ♥
There was a whoosh of icy cold air against my skin as I felt my blanket being tugged off my body. I shivered and somehow managed to peel my eyes open when I heard his voice, deep and demanding.
"Enough of this, J.R. Get outta bed. We're leaving."
I groaned and tried to grab my blankets back from him. Seeing he had no intentions on giving them back, I rolled over and sighed, "Seven? Get the fuck outta my room before I throttle you."
He chuckled under his breath, "If you think you can, lil sis. Listen, I don't know how to say this delicately but you...uhm, stink. You've been laying in that bed for days and I can't take it anymore."
I sat up and leveled my gaze on him, "My boyfriend just died, jackass. I'm in mourning. Now please....get the fuck out."
I ignored the peal of laughter that came from the corner. Dead boyfriend....that won't go away. My life sucks sometimes.
Seven made his way to my closet and opened it with flourish, "Favorite hoodie, check. Favorite jeans, check. Shoes are by the door. Shower and I'll meet you out front in 15." He tossed my clothes on the bed and left without a backward glance.
"Might as well just go with him, he won't take no for an answer." Tommy reasoned from his spot in the chair in the corner of my room.
"Aren't you supposed to be on my side?" I complain.
"Getta move on," he pushes.
I lumber out of my comfy and warm bed and grab my things in a huff, "Fine."
****
Seven's driving towards the center of town, looking rather pleased with himself. He wears a satisfied smirk and it furthers my annoyance with him. He angles the car into a parking spot and climbs out of the car, shooting me a look at he goes. I sit steadfast in my seat, watching as he walks gracefully around to the passengers side. He raps his knuckles against the glass, signaling me to join him. I shake my head at him, pouting and scrunch down further into the leather seat. With one fluid movement, he opens the car door and reaches in, tucking his large palms under my arms to pull me from the confines of the vehicle. I contemplate kicking my feet and throwing a tantrum like a 2 year old but think better of it.
"Seriously?" I whine, as he sets me on my feet and closes my door with his hip.
"Under the tree. See the woman sitting there? Go talk to her." Seven commands. Usually when my older brother talks, I listen because it's just the nature of our relationship. He's a great big brother and would never lead me astray. But as I glance over at the strange woman sitting with her legs tucked under her, hair in a messy bun that is perched on top of her head, I'm not so sure about walking over there.
"Why? Who is she?" I question.
He pushes me along the grass, firm hands on my shoulders, "Just someone that might know a thing or two about where Tommy is. Jessica told me about her. Now scoot."
I look over my shoulder at him with my mouth gaped open like a fish, "A psychic, Seven? A fucking charlatan psychic, for the love of Christ. You and your stupid girlfriend think that my boyfriend being dead is some sort of joke, do you?"
I feel my blood pressure rising and heart racing. I clench my fist in a blinding rage. The emotions of the last week that I thought had drained me find new life and thrum through my veins. I try to control my breathing that is now ragged and pinched in my chest. Somewhere in my heart I know that my stupid brother is just trying to help but I can't concentrate on that because I am so furious.
"You're just so sad, J." he says quietly, "We thought this might help. She's supposed to be the real deal."
He smiles apologetically but I can tell from the look in his eyes that he has no intentions on letting me get out of this. I poke him hard in the chest and grit my teeth.
"You fucking owe me, Seven. You owe me big." I snarl as I walk away from him, turning once to point at him again. He grins and walks over to a bench in the nearly empty park.
****
I sit with my back up against the large oak tree in silence. I haven't made eye contact with the strange woman and I don't plan on it. She has a deck of weird card in front of her and she is shuffling through them slowly. I deduce that they are probably tarot cards and I want to wring my brothers neck for putting me in this fucked up situation.
"He thought it would help," she says in a quiet but comforting voice. "Your brother. He thought it would help to bring you here. Of course, he doesn't know your secret, I gather."
I feel myself shiver at her words and my skin crawl lightly. I pull myself together and give her the best "J.R. huff" I can muster. "Ooooo. I've got a secret. How would you ever know that?"
"I'm a story teller, you know. These cards? They just help me tell the story." She shifts so her back is now on the opposite side of the tree from me and I wait for her to speak again. A few long moments pass in silence. It's comfortable which is the weird thing. It's like two old friends that just happened to be at the same place at the same time. I mull this over and then clear my throat.
"So what kind of stories do you tell? Ever hear the one about the crazy girl that sees dead people?" I say.
I hear her quiet chuckle wrap around the tree's massive trunk and somehow sink into my chest, "I might know some variation of that one, yes? Shall I?"
I nod and then quickly realize she can't see me. "I'm all ears."
She shifts around until she is sitting next to me, "Once upon a time, there lived a wonderfully bright girl that was living a fairytale. She had a wonderful family, great friends and a kind boyfriend."
I suck in a deep breath at the way my heart twists in my chest. I feel her hand reach out to take mine. She wraps it solidly in hers and gives a light squeeze.
"Oh sweetheart." She sighs.
I look up at her, eyes full of unshed tears. "Just tell me, is there a happy ending to this story?"
She smiles and it's genuine and real and it wraps me in warmth.
"Of course. Your prince? He loves you so very much. He's always going to be with you." She chuckles as she hugs me to her, "You're not crazy, you know."
"No. I don't know that. He talks to me, he feels real." I sob against her chest.
"Hey." She pulls my chin up, "He IS real, J.R. It's a gift for you and only you. There are trying times ahead for you but in the end, you will have the answer you seek."
She pulls away from me and stands. She nods and then turns to walk away.
"Thanks." I call after her.
****
"Puppies? Kittens? Ice Cream?" Seven says as he stands to meet me.
"Huh?"
"What's it gonna take for you to forgive me for this asshattery?" He replies.
"Ice cream, I think." I grin, "Hey Seven?"
"Hmmm?"
"Thanks. You know, for caring."
"Welcome brat." He says as he pats my head and tucks me under his arm.
More from J.R. (I adore her...and her snarky ways) ♥
There was a whoosh of icy cold air against my skin as I felt my blanket being tugged off my body. I shivered and somehow managed to peel my eyes open when I heard his voice, deep and demanding.
"Enough of this, J.R. Get outta bed. We're leaving."
I groaned and tried to grab my blankets back from him. Seeing he had no intentions on giving them back, I rolled over and sighed, "Seven? Get the fuck outta my room before I throttle you."
He chuckled under his breath, "If you think you can, lil sis. Listen, I don't know how to say this delicately but you...uhm, stink. You've been laying in that bed for days and I can't take it anymore."
I sat up and leveled my gaze on him, "My boyfriend just died, jackass. I'm in mourning. Now please....get the fuck out."
I ignored the peal of laughter that came from the corner. Dead boyfriend....that won't go away. My life sucks sometimes.
Seven made his way to my closet and opened it with flourish, "Favorite hoodie, check. Favorite jeans, check. Shoes are by the door. Shower and I'll meet you out front in 15." He tossed my clothes on the bed and left without a backward glance.
"Might as well just go with him, he won't take no for an answer." Tommy reasoned from his spot in the chair in the corner of my room.
"Aren't you supposed to be on my side?" I complain.
"Getta move on," he pushes.
I lumber out of my comfy and warm bed and grab my things in a huff, "Fine."
****
Seven's driving towards the center of town, looking rather pleased with himself. He wears a satisfied smirk and it furthers my annoyance with him. He angles the car into a parking spot and climbs out of the car, shooting me a look at he goes. I sit steadfast in my seat, watching as he walks gracefully around to the passengers side. He raps his knuckles against the glass, signaling me to join him. I shake my head at him, pouting and scrunch down further into the leather seat. With one fluid movement, he opens the car door and reaches in, tucking his large palms under my arms to pull me from the confines of the vehicle. I contemplate kicking my feet and throwing a tantrum like a 2 year old but think better of it.
"Seriously?" I whine, as he sets me on my feet and closes my door with his hip.
"Under the tree. See the woman sitting there? Go talk to her." Seven commands. Usually when my older brother talks, I listen because it's just the nature of our relationship. He's a great big brother and would never lead me astray. But as I glance over at the strange woman sitting with her legs tucked under her, hair in a messy bun that is perched on top of her head, I'm not so sure about walking over there.
"Why? Who is she?" I question.
He pushes me along the grass, firm hands on my shoulders, "Just someone that might know a thing or two about where Tommy is. Jessica told me about her. Now scoot."
I look over my shoulder at him with my mouth gaped open like a fish, "A psychic, Seven? A fucking charlatan psychic, for the love of Christ. You and your stupid girlfriend think that my boyfriend being dead is some sort of joke, do you?"
I feel my blood pressure rising and heart racing. I clench my fist in a blinding rage. The emotions of the last week that I thought had drained me find new life and thrum through my veins. I try to control my breathing that is now ragged and pinched in my chest. Somewhere in my heart I know that my stupid brother is just trying to help but I can't concentrate on that because I am so furious.
"You're just so sad, J." he says quietly, "We thought this might help. She's supposed to be the real deal."
He smiles apologetically but I can tell from the look in his eyes that he has no intentions on letting me get out of this. I poke him hard in the chest and grit my teeth.
"You fucking owe me, Seven. You owe me big." I snarl as I walk away from him, turning once to point at him again. He grins and walks over to a bench in the nearly empty park.
****
I sit with my back up against the large oak tree in silence. I haven't made eye contact with the strange woman and I don't plan on it. She has a deck of weird card in front of her and she is shuffling through them slowly. I deduce that they are probably tarot cards and I want to wring my brothers neck for putting me in this fucked up situation.
"He thought it would help," she says in a quiet but comforting voice. "Your brother. He thought it would help to bring you here. Of course, he doesn't know your secret, I gather."
I feel myself shiver at her words and my skin crawl lightly. I pull myself together and give her the best "J.R. huff" I can muster. "Ooooo. I've got a secret. How would you ever know that?"
"I'm a story teller, you know. These cards? They just help me tell the story." She shifts so her back is now on the opposite side of the tree from me and I wait for her to speak again. A few long moments pass in silence. It's comfortable which is the weird thing. It's like two old friends that just happened to be at the same place at the same time. I mull this over and then clear my throat.
"So what kind of stories do you tell? Ever hear the one about the crazy girl that sees dead people?" I say.
I hear her quiet chuckle wrap around the tree's massive trunk and somehow sink into my chest, "I might know some variation of that one, yes? Shall I?"
I nod and then quickly realize she can't see me. "I'm all ears."
She shifts around until she is sitting next to me, "Once upon a time, there lived a wonderfully bright girl that was living a fairytale. She had a wonderful family, great friends and a kind boyfriend."
I suck in a deep breath at the way my heart twists in my chest. I feel her hand reach out to take mine. She wraps it solidly in hers and gives a light squeeze.
"Oh sweetheart." She sighs.
I look up at her, eyes full of unshed tears. "Just tell me, is there a happy ending to this story?"
She smiles and it's genuine and real and it wraps me in warmth.
"Of course. Your prince? He loves you so very much. He's always going to be with you." She chuckles as she hugs me to her, "You're not crazy, you know."
"No. I don't know that. He talks to me, he feels real." I sob against her chest.
"Hey." She pulls my chin up, "He IS real, J.R. It's a gift for you and only you. There are trying times ahead for you but in the end, you will have the answer you seek."
She pulls away from me and stands. She nods and then turns to walk away.
"Thanks." I call after her.
****
"Puppies? Kittens? Ice Cream?" Seven says as he stands to meet me.
"Huh?"
"What's it gonna take for you to forgive me for this asshattery?" He replies.
"Ice cream, I think." I grin, "Hey Seven?"
"Hmmm?"
"Thanks. You know, for caring."
"Welcome brat." He says as he pats my head and tucks me under his arm.